Guardiola says Rayan Cherki has talent that ‘cannot be taught’

Guardiola says Rayan Cherki has talent that ‘cannot be taught’

Pep Guardiola has said Rayan Cherki has a talent that cannot be taught but wants to keep pushing the Manchester City midfielder to get better.

Cherki has had an impressive debut season since signing from Lyon last summer. The Frenchman is the only player in the Premier League to score 10+ goals and provide 10+ assists across all competitions, and scored a sublime solo goal to open the scoring against title rivals Arsenal last weekend.

Guardiola believes Cherki produces his best football when games are tight, but wants the 22-year-old to improve his consistency. Reflecting on Cherki’s brilliant opener against Arsenal, the City boss said the summer signing has an unteachable talent.

“What a goal, right? But I like to push him. He was extraordinary,” Guardiola said, via Hayters TV.

“What I like most is the difficulties, 1-0, 0-0, down, always he makes a step forward. But sometimes when we’re 2-0, 3-0, he’s not involved anymore.

“He makes an incredible goal, but after – maybe for the way we play – we didn’t find him much. And I want him more, and that action he’s done, I want five of them! Not [always] finishing with a goal, but more actions to pass, and it didn’t happen. And sometimes in the last games, he is… not disappeared, but he’s not… He has the biggest attribute when it’s 0-0, going down, we found him more. But I think it’s part of the process.

“How old is he? So young! As much as you want to learn or this sense of being incredibly competitive, he’ll become a top player because the goal he has scored is Rayan Cherki. This cannot be taught, it’s just his amazing talent…”

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